#18: Sit, Ubu, Sit

Sit, Ubu, Sit is the autobiography of Gary David Goldberg, the executive producer of several TV shows, including "Family Ties" and "Spin City." I picked it up after reading an earlier review of it, not because it was especially interesting to me, but because of the title. I vaguely remember watching "Family Ties" when I was younger, but I clearly remember the message of, "Sit, Ubu, Sit. Good Dog!" Whatever the reason I had for choosing the book, it turned out to be very engaging.

Goldberg tells the story of how he rose from an average family in Brooklyn to being successful and extremely wealthy. He jumps around in a non-sequential order with vignettes of his life, but they are very easy to follow. Basically, as a young man, Goldberg was not sure what he wanted to do in life. He attended various colleges, never graduating, and ended up working as a waiter in New York. He met a girl who shared his wanderlust, ended up in California, and eventually spent time traveling through Europe. When his girlfriend became pregnant, they returned home. After some time spent running a day care center in Berkeley, they headed down to San Diego so she could attend grad school. Goldberg enrolled in some courses to finish his degree, and his instructor in creative writing told him he had a lot of talent. He signed with an agent, got involved in TV writing, and progressed from there, eventually forming his own production company named after his beloved dog.

Sit, Ubu, Sit was such an engaging book because Goldberg is a great storyteller, and he has an interesting story to tell. His story just seemed honest and straightforward. While he is obviously proud of his success, he maintains a sense of humility and is not afraid to point out his mistakes. He also emphasizes the value he places on family. With all of the vapid characters in the entertainment world, Goldberg seems like a good guy.

Raitng: *****